Thought I had seen it all, but today southbound on 81 was a pickup truck hauling a fifth wheel. On the roof of the pickup truck was a red smart car.I don't know what to say, but I want to know more about it.....you know who you are, so fill us in!

and how does he get it up there and back down

old guy wrote:and how does he get it up there and back downMaybe that's why the OP wants to know more about it? :)

Whew! All I can say is "Better him than me".

On a pick up....wonder how much over weight he was.Ken

Smart car being transported on roof of tow vehicle

91 Replies

Mile_High
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
You folks have it all wrong - just like an inflatable space-saver spare tire, that is a space saver spare car!

You unload and inflate and it becomes a full size Dodge Charger :B
John___Angela
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
I'm still thinking it would be top heavy. A truck camper carries it's weight lower. I don't know.

As far as the smart car comments, I think it's all about personal comfort zones. Many of us don't think twice about getting on a motorcycle or travelling to foreign destinations that many others wouldn't dream of. Sometimes it's because of something traumatic that's happened earlier in their life or sometimes it's just not in their interests. Every bodies different, it would suck if we were all the same. We have been driving smart cars for 8 years and have learned to grow a little thicker skin for comments and opinions from others. It was the same when I had my motorcycle.
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
thedoghouse wrote:
This it?

I don't know where I got the pic but it's out there

This is not a F-550 that can be rated to carry about 9,000 pounds. However it is a dually F-350 or perhaps a F-450?

The problem is the hitch pin of the fifth wheel might be to far behind the center of the rear axle. This can cause the pin weight to remove weight from the front axle when it hits a bump, and can be unstable.

As for the car over the cab - it looks just as safe as the car delivery vehicles that I have seen over the years. Personally I would not go though all that trouble to take along a high MPG car for sightseeing. I would rather drive the comfortable truck. Yet the owners conditions might vary, and perhaps they have to drive a long distance for whatever reason, and prefer not to put a lot of mileage on the truck. Someone living full time in the RV might like to bring along a small car.

Once I saw a tow truck that had a VW camper van on it, towing a 30+ foot long Airstream. It was owned by a couple who lived in the RV full time, and wanted a comfortable car to sightsee in, when they did not want to take the trailer someplace.

Fred.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Oct 29, 2014
Justaguy wrote:
shum02 wrote:
mileshuff wrote:
Not a fan of the Smart Car myself. Not high enough mpg for the cost and cramped size. Too many other cars that get decent mpg and much more room.

In Canada you can find the diesel models. VERY decent fuel mileage.

Whatever you save in fuel dollars you will spend in medical bills or funeral costs.
:R
tsetsaf
Explorer III
Oct 29, 2014
Looks like a "smart" use of space. Without knowing the scaled weights I would defer to the drivers better judgement. The thought that went into that hydraulic lift leads me to assume that the owner knows exactly what they are doing. I am always impressed with the ingenuity of RVers to make things work.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Oct 29, 2014
Lets see now a 3000 lb pin weight on the trucks rear axle and a 1875 lb smart car which can have much of its weight on the trucks front axle all sitting on a one ton DRW with a 9000 RAWR and 6000 FAWR and we get the same silly remarks like ....... :R

I see nothing wrong with the combo. Its not something many folks would load and pull so its just natural for those types to put their foot in mouth by making some silly comments.

Lots of the same DRW trucks out here hauling cars with same concept. One small car on a rack over the truck and a triaxle GN slant trailer with 2-4 vehicles on it out behind.
And those folks that make those silly comments think nothing about sharing the road with commercial car haulers every day. :S

Comments on "look what I saw" threads are always a hoot and entertaining :B
Justaguy
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
shum02 wrote:
mileshuff wrote:
Not a fan of the Smart Car myself. Not high enough mpg for the cost and cramped size. Too many other cars that get decent mpg and much more room.

In Canada you can find the diesel models. VERY decent fuel mileage.

Whatever you save in fuel dollars you will spend in medical bills or funeral costs.
Justaguy
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
rtz549 wrote:
In the picture; it looks like none of the platform above the cab is even supported?
NJRVer
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
B.O. Plenty wrote:
Dennis M M wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
I always want to put a sticker that says "not very" above the badge "smart car" !

I value my life and my wives too much to drive such a death trap.

A whole string of people stuck in the fifties! Size and weight are no protection. The smart is one of the safest cars on the road as far as passenger protection goes. You have a full roll cage in the safety cell, anti-lock brakes, stability control, 8 airbags, etc.

I wrecked one smart (yes it was my fault) and all that happened was that the air bag knocked off my glasses. The poor smart was totaled (mainly due to European content on a gray market model), but the doors opened and closed perfectly after a hard front end impact.

Do some research before you blow off your bazzoo and show your ignorance.
I would rather be trapped in the fifties than trapped in a Smart car that got run over by my diesel pickup! You will never convince me that it's safer than my truck..

B.O.

Maybe not your truck, but a Smart car vs a '50's car?
You'll be dead faster in the '50's car.
No air bags, seat belts, crumple zones, padded/collapsible dash, tempered/laminated glass.
Not to mention that since the steering column was one solid steel shaft it just pierced right through your chest and pinned you to the seat.

!950's car=DOA.
Justaguy
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
Dennis M M wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
I always want to put a sticker that says "not very" above the badge "smart car" !

I value my life and my wives too much to drive such a death trap.

A whole string of people stuck in the fifties! Size and weight are no protection. The smart is one of the safest cars on the road as far as passenger protection goes. You have a full roll cage in the safety cell, anti-lock brakes, stability control, 8 airbags, etc.

I wrecked one smart (yes it was my fault) and all that happened was that the air bag knocked off my glasses. The poor smart was totaled (mainly due to European content on a gray market model), but the doors opened and closed perfectly after a hard front end impact.

Do some research before you blow off your bazzoo and show your ignorance.

(They walk among us)

Wow!

Law Enforcement/firefighters call these and Dodge Neons "Gut Buckets" EMTs call 'em "COW"s (Coffin On Wheels).

Size and Weight combined with speed will always win...double that if it is at an intersection or head - on impact.

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Smart car being transported on roof of tow vehicle

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